Stop Arm Violations still a problem for Local Schools

By: Corbin Lingenfelter, News Director

Jasper- In the 2021-22 school year, the city of Jasper Police Department issued 80 stop arm violations. In the first two weeks of classes in 2022-23, they have already had sixteen (16) reports.

Stop arm violations can lead to serious and fatal injuries to students crossing the roads to get to and from home. In Fulton County Indiana, three children were killed by a woman who violated a stop arm in 2018. She was sentenced to four years in prison plus home detention and probation.

Local officers Brian Lampbert and Jason Knies along with GJCS Transportation Director Glenn Buechlein and Deputy Prosecutor Evan Biesterveld shared concerning numbers for being two weeks into the school year.

“There have been sixteen reported violations thus far,” said Buechlein, “That doesn’t mean they were all valid violations from the stand point of the running of the stop arm and the time allotted.”

Officers with the Jasper Police Department take the footage from stop arm cameras and review the matter before deciding if the facts rule a violation occurred.

“Most of the violations have occurred on multi-lane roadways, as well as intersections.” Shared Officer Knies.

If a bus is stopped at a multi-lane road way with no concrete or grass barrier all drivers from both lanes are required to stop according to Indiana State Law.

Those who are found to have violated a Stop Arm can face anywhere from a $141.00 fine to a Class A Misdemeanor charge for Reckless Driving. The misdemeanor could be bumped up to a level 6 or level 5 Felony if injury or death occurs.

To help combat those who go through Stop Arms, the Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools have installed cameras to video the routes run by their drivers. Footage can show the interior of the bus, front end with stop arm out, and also the rear-end view to capture license plates. To mark the time of the incident, drivers can push an “event” button to time stamp for officers’ review.

“We pull the hard-drive and download the video and we gather all the information we need and then we contact the registered own of the vehicle,” Said Officer Knies.

“A lot of times I like to go and meet with the person and speak with the person,” said Officer Lambpert, “Sometimes that’s just not feasible.”

Newton and St. Charles Street are where the majority of violations are being reported according to Buechlein. In response, the City of Jasper Police Department is monitoring these streets, which sometimes have two to three reports.

As a reminder Indiana State Law says:

• If a bus stops a single lane roadway, both directions must stop
• If a bus stops on a multi-lane roadway or intersection, all directions must stop
• If a multi-lane roadway has a concrete or grass barrier, vehicles traveling the same direction of the bus must stop